Laura Babcock: Dellen Millard & Mark Smich charged w/Murder in the First Degree #1

[Alethea Dice]

Are they pursuing MS's graffiti charge?

As far as I know. I've never heard anything different.

In addition to his first-degree murder charge, Smich is facing a mischief charge from last year for allegedly spraying graffiti on an Oakville overpass.

http://metronews.ca/news/hamilton/683617/disturbing-killer-video-was-just-acting-alleged-producer-says/

He was also charged with mischief under $5,000 for spray-painting an Oakville overpass in October 2012. Those charges have not yet been resolved. He will next appear on June 3.

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2013/05/23/tim_bosma_homicide_second_suspect_mark_smich_appears_in_court.html

They may have been resolved by now, but I doubt that charge would be on a high priority list for MSM.

JMO

 

[Kamille]

I understand that it is your opinion that LE don't look for stolen vehicles, but the link provided above proves that wrong, in my opinion, by stating clearly that half of the stolen vehicles in our province are found by LE. They would not be found if they were not looking for them, that's just logical, in my opinion.

Are you suggesting that LE only find it 'worth their effort' to search for half of the cars reported stolen, and that they then have a 100% location rate? Do you have some sort of MSM verification of this repeated assertion that LE find that it is not 'worth the effort' to try to investigate crimes or prosecute the criminals once they are discovered? Or a link that shows that police don't look for punks who steal cars in pairs, that they only go after big car theft rings? I believe the link I provided above disproves that theory, personally.

I was always under the impression that we pay LE to put their effort into solving crimes, but perhaps I have too much faith in LE. Personally, I find the whole 'not worth the effort' excuse distasteful to say the least, because it reminds me of the possible attitude of LE when LB disappeared.

As you stated yourself, it is my opinion on how LE deal with theft of personal property. I've had many acquaintences over the years have property stolen. Vehicles, jewellery and other home contents. None of them have ever reported to me that their property was recovered, nor was an investigator in contact with them to report on the status of the investigation of their missing property. MM stated in the article linked that he was surprised that 3 months after reporting his trailer/bike stolen, no investigator had ever been in contact with him. He made his report right at 51 Division. I cannot link an opinion based on years of experience. Property crime is the least priority when it comes to LE resources. So it may be different in a big city as compared to a small town where the local OPP detachment only gets one vehicle theft call to investigate. If there are other calls of higher priority, it will go to the bottom of the list. In a city like the GTA for example, it likely stays there.

And with regards to "not worth the effort", I believe, in my opinion only, that you may have too much faith in the prosecution rates and priorities in this province. Especially for petty and/or property crime. Using expensive and limited LE resources to try to investigate and prosecute a crime that is likely not prosecutable just doesn't make sense. This is why so many cases are dropped before they make it to court. It's just not worth the time and expense for the expected outcome.

The situation with LB is another bone of contention altogether. You might want to look into the statistics of missing person's in this country and how proactive LE are at working to find them especially if they are known drug users, sex trade workers, drifters or homeless etc. It can be an eye opener. But we have to be realistic. I am 100 percent pro LE. Appreciate everything they do. But we just don't have nearly enough of them to cover every possible crime in this country. So things have to get prioritized, triaged in medical terms. It's just the way it is. And property crime/vehicle theft sits at the bottom and is likely the least solved crime in terms of clearance rates in the country.

So when I say that LE in most cases do not investigate vehicle theft, it's not because they don't want to, it's because they have bigger priorities.

As always, the above is my opinion only.

MOO

 

[cansleuther]

So when I say that LE in most cases do not investigate vehicle theft, it's not because they don't want to, it's because they have bigger priorities.

Hamilton LE actually have a unit dedicated to auto theft and robbery - that's who is/was investigating the alleged chop shop.

"The Hamilton police BEAR [break, enter, auto theft and robbery] Unit did recover parts of the stolen motorcycle in the hangar and have returned those parts to the owner," said Hamilton police spokesperson Debbie MacGreal-Dinning in an email. She said there were also parts from other stolen vehicles found.

"There were a number of vehicles and/or parts found in the hangar and this remains under investigation with the Hamilton police."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/millard-air-hangar-contained-stolen-vehicles-police-say-1.1381792

 

[Alethea Dice]

Hamilton LE actually have a unit dedicated to auto theft and robbery - that's who is/was investigating the alleged chop shop.



http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/millard-air-hangar-contained-stolen-vehicles-police-say-1.1381792

Thanks for that, cansleuther. For some reason, I was thinking the alleged chop shop had been handed over to Waterloo LE.

Hamilton and Brantford have the highest rates of vehicle theft in Ontario. I don't think they would just drop this if they found further evidence that the "less than 10" vehicles in the hangar were stolen and it was perhaps operating a chop shop. JMO

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/hamilton-area-car-thefts-tops-in-ontario-police-launch-blitz-1.2974308

 

[Alethea Dice]

As you stated yourself, it is my opinion on how LE deal with theft of personal property. I've had many acquaintences over the years have property stolen. Vehicles, jewellery and other home contents. None of them have ever reported to me that their property was recovered, nor was an investigator in contact with them to report on the status of the investigation of their missing property. MM stated in the article linked that he was surprised that 3 months after reporting his trailer/bike stolen, no investigator had ever been in contact with him. He made his report right at 51 Division. I cannot link an opinion based on years of experience. Property crime is the least priority when it comes to LE resources.

<rsbm>

I guess I live in the right city. I've had two family members who've had vehicles stolen and both were recovered by LE. I also had a neighbour whose home was broken into. Not much was stolen, but LE still came and did the sweep for fingerprints.

JMO

 

[Kamille]

R

Hamilton LE actually have a unit dedicated to auto theft and robbery - that's who is/was investigating the alleged chop shop.



http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/millard-air-hangar-contained-stolen-vehicles-police-say-1.1381792

Well it's a good thing for DM then that the trailer/bike was stolen in the GTA or this unit might have considered cross referencing new trailers being registered as homemade.

 

[Kamille]

<rsbm>

I guess I live in the right city. I've had two family members who've had vehicles stolen and both were recovered by LE. I also had a neighbour whose home was broken into. Not much was stolen, but LE still came and did the sweep for fingerprints.

JMO

Do you have a link for that? J/k

Did they mention how LE recovered their vehicles? Were they out looking for them? Did they put out a BOLO? Did LE comb surveillence footage and interview witnesses in the area where they were stolen and recognize a suspect getting in and taking the vehicles? Maybe they found them hidden in the suspects garage on on his property after a thorough investigation? Was he charged and prosecuted?

Or did they or some concerned citizen find them abandoned somewhere and call it in?

TIA

 

[Alethea Dice]

Do you have a link for that? J/k

Did they mention how LE recovered their vehicles? Were they out looking for them? Did they put out a BOLO? Did LE comb surveillence footage and interview witnesses in the area where they were stolen and recognize a suspect getting in and taking the vehicles? Maybe they found them hidden in the suspects garage on on his property after a thorough investigation? Was he charged and prosecuted?

Or did they or some concerned citizen find them abandoned somewhere and call it in?

TIA

Haha. Well one was just found in a ditch destroyed. The other was missing a lot of parts when they found it, but yes, someone was charged. Not sure how it ended up as no one attended court.

I was more surprised about the dusting for prints actually.

 

[matou]

Not sure but could Laura have been killed in Toronto? Her remains were not found at the farm.

Regional supervising coroner Jack Stanborough said his office does not have an &#8220;open and ongoing&#8221; investigation into Ms. Babcock, meaning her remains were not discovered in his territory, which covers a swath of southwestern Ontario that includes Mr. Millard&#8217;s former rural property. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know if the body&#8217;s been found,&#8221; Dr. Stanborough said in an interview. &#8220;And if the body has been found, it was not found in my region.&#8221;

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ound-at-dellen-millards-farm/article18476919/

Here is the region served by Dr. Stanborough:

Brant County ; Dufferin County ; Haldimand County ; Hamilton (City of) ; Kitchener ; Niagara Region ; Waterloo

https://niagara.cioc.ca/record/HAM2830

 

[Alethea Dice]

Not sure but could Laura have been killed in Toronto? Her remains were not found at the farm.

Regional supervising coroner Jack Stanborough said his office does not have an &#8220;open and ongoing&#8221; investigation into Ms. Babcock, meaning her remains were not discovered in his territory, which covers a swath of southwestern Ontario that includes Mr. Millard&#8217;s former rural property. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know if the body&#8217;s been found,&#8221; Dr. Stanborough said in an interview. &#8220;And if the body has been found, it was not found in my region.&#8221;

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ound-at-dellen-millards-farm/article18476919/

Here is the region served by Dr. Stanborough:

Brant County ; Dufferin County ; Haldimand County ; Hamilton (City of) ; Kitchener ; Niagara Region ; Waterloo

https://niagara.cioc.ca/record/HAM2830

Nor anywhere else in Ontario apparently:

The province's coroner's office says it has never opened an investigation into the Laura Babcock murder, something it would do if remains were found in Ontario.

The provincial coroner&#8217;s office has never handled the remains of Laura Babcock.
Police have kept whether her body has been recovered secret from her family. However, the province&#8217;s coroner investigates any death by suspected homicide and would be involved if Babcock&#8217;s remains were found in the province.

The coroner&#8217;s office would only confirm that no remains were uncovered and examined in Ontario. It could not comment on the possibility her remains were found in another province or country.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/06/14/dellen_millard_case_laura_babcocks_body_not_recovered_in_ontario.html

 

[Juballee]

Nor anywhere else in Ontario apparently:







http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/06/14/dellen_millard_case_laura_babcocks_body_not_recovered_in_ontario.html

I certainly hope that if her body were found anywhere, her poor parents would at least be notified and allowed to eventually recover the body for a funeral.

 

[Arnie M]

Not sure but could Laura have been killed in Toronto? Her remains were not found at the farm.

Regional supervising coroner Jack Stanborough said his office does not have an “open and ongoing” investigation into Ms. Babcock, meaning her remains were not discovered in his territory, which covers a swath of southwestern Ontario that includes Mr. Millard’s former rural property. “I don’t know if the body’s been found,” Dr. Stanborough said in an interview. “And if the body has been found, it was not found in my region.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ound-at-dellen-millards-farm/article18476919/

Here is the region served by Dr. Stanborough:

Brant County ; Dufferin County ; Haldimand County ; Hamilton (City of) ; Kitchener ; Niagara Region ; Waterloo

https://niagara.cioc.ca/record/HAM2830

One thing has always puzzled me matou ... never any mention of deep ground searching in the areas where that large track-hoe was used .

Those things can easily dig a 30' deep hole in a swamp or forest or whatever , dump in a body or ashes and fill the hole.

That large backhoe was subsequently put up for sale after the new engine was installed , and I believe the seller was the same person disposing of the other M-Air assets.

The incinerator and large backhoe are not the type of equipment an absentee farm owner would normally require.

 

[Juballee]

One thing has always puzzled me matou ... never any mention of deep ground searching in the areas where that large track-hoe was used .

Those things can easily dig a 30' deep hole in a swamp or forest or whatever , dump in a body or ashes and fill the hole.

That large backhoe was subsequently put up for sale after the new engine was installed , and I believe the seller was the same person disposing of the other M-Air assets.

The incinerator and large backhoe are not the type of equipment an absentee farm owner would normally require.

I hope that this isn't suggesting that LE were incompetent enough to leave poor Laura's remains on the farm after two thorough searches?

Didn't they use ground penetrating sonar over large areas where someone had given them a tip or something? Isn't 30 ft deep kind of overkill for burying a body or ashes?

 

[swedie]

One thing has always puzzled me matou ... never any mention of deep ground searching in the areas where that large track-hoe was used .

Those things can easily dig a 30' deep hole in a swamp or forest or whatever , dump in a body or ashes and fill the hole.

That large backhoe was subsequently put up for sale after the new engine was installed , and I believe the seller was the same person disposing of the other M-Air assets.

The incinerator and large backhoe are not the type of equipment an absentee farm owner would normally require.

Arnie if there was ever a time DM showed any intelligence it was disposing of LB's remains. OK I'll give him credit for his flying achievements also. I assume he disposed of them somewhere other than his own property. He would have done the same with TB had he only more time IMO. Time was not on DM's side and that is how he left an obvious trail, with solid evidence of TB's murder. Did DM brag or confide in CN or MS of how or where he disposed of LB? There are so many places he could have disposed of LB's ashes. Did he take them in his luggage on vacation and scatter them in another country? If asked by airport security, I guess he could claim they were his father's ashes and show his death certificate as proof. ALL JMO.

I agree, the incinerator is not equipment someone would have when they own a chunky of farmland property with no animals. LB's family may wish to have a memorial for her once the facts come out in the trial, when they have the evidence and the charged are sentenced. MOO again.

Homicide detectives believe Dellen Millard bought a gun illegally and used it to murder his father. And that he also murdered Laura Babcock and incinerated her body &#8212; just as he allegedly did with Tim Bosma.

While it is unusual for police to lay a murder charge with no body, it is not unheard of. In the Hamilton case of Billy Mason, who was abducted, shot and incinerated with no remains found, his killer, Jeremy Hall, was convicted of first-degree murder.

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4...ed-bosma-killer-s-girlfriend-was-incinerated/

 

[Alethea Dice]

Did DM brag or confide in CN or MS of how or where he disposed of LB?

rsbm

Don't forget that MS is also charged with first degree murder in LB's death. That usually consists of considerably more than being confided in. JMO

But thanks for finding that Spectator article that was eluding me the other night.

 

[swedie]

rsbm

Don't forget that MS is also charged with first degree murder in LB's death. That usually consists of considerably more than being confided in. JMO

But thanks for finding that Spectator article that was eluding me the other night.

Did DM set her murder up so well it appears MS was involved? It's a possibility in MOO.
No problemo.

 

[Kamille]

I still maintain that regardless of who actually committed the murders, if there was someone else there who was contributing to the confinement aspect, they are equally responsible.

MOO

 

[matou]

Hijacking, sexual assault or kidnapping


(5) Irrespective of whether a murder is planned and deliberate on the part of any person, murder is first degree murder in respect of a person when the death is caused by that person while committing or attempting to commit an offence under one of the following sections:
(a) section 76 (hijacking an aircraft);
(b) section 271 (sexual assault);
(c) section 272 (sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party or causing bodily harm);
(d) section 273 (aggravated sexual assault);
(e) section 279 (kidnapping and forcible confinement); or
(f) section 279.1 (hostage taking).

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-231.html

 

[Alethea Dice]

I still maintain that regardless of who actually committed the murders, if there was someone else there who was contributing to the confinement aspect, they are equally responsible.

MOO

Was someone charged with confinement in regards to LB's disappearance?

 

[Kamille]

Was someone charged with confinement in regards to LB's disappearance?

No they were not. So I guess we can chalk that one up to just planned and deliberate then? And since MS was not charged with either forceable confinement nor theft over $5000 in this murder, I suppose we can consider that while he acted in a planned and deliberate manner to aid in the crime against TB, he was not actually there at the time of the murder?

MOO